Battery life extender apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for precluding discharge of any lead acid battery used in an intermittent-use device with an integral battery charging system having various components including means for controlling a direct current, and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery of the device, comprising:
- means, employing components of the integral battery charging system of the device, including at least said means for controlling the direct current and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery of the device, for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the specific battery'"'"'s self-discharge rate while the device is not in use; and
means for coupling the means for providing a maintenance current to an external power source.
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Abstract
Apparatus for extending the battery life of a seasonal-use battery. The apparatus is an improvement in a seasonal-use device having a battery charging system, wherein the battery charging system includes a voltage step-down device coupled to the charging system. The improvement includes a mechanism integral the battery charging system for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the battery'"'"'s self-discharge rate. A mechanism is provided for coupling the battery charging system to an external power source. The apparatus for extending the battery life may also be coupled to the seasonal-use device system controller.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for precluding discharge of any lead acid battery used in an intermittent-use device with an integral battery charging system having various components including means for controlling a direct current, and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery of the device, comprising:
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means, employing components of the integral battery charging system of the device, including at least said means for controlling the direct current and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery of the device, for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the specific battery'"'"'s self-discharge rate while the device is not in use; and means for coupling the means for providing a maintenance current to an external power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a seasonal-use device having a battery charging system including a voltage step-down device coupled to the charging system, the improvement comprising:
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means integral the battery charging system for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the battery'"'"'s self-discharge rate; means for coupling the battery charging system to an external power source; a primary transformer core extension, wherein the primary winding is coupled about the primary transformer core extension; means for coupling the primary transformer core extension to the secondary transformer core; an interlock mechanism coupled to the means for coupling the transformer core extension for locking; wherein the voltage step-down device is a transformer having a secondary winding, wherein the means for providing a maintenance current further includes the battery charging system having the transformer secondary winding coupled to a secondary transformer core; and
means for providing a maintenance current coupled to the secondary transformer core including a primary winding.
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6. A battery life extender apparatus for use in extending the life of a battery located within an intermittent-use device having an integral battery charging system, the battery life extender, comprising:
an intermittent-use device integral battery charging system including; an integral maintainer mechanism for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the battery'"'"'s self-discharge rate while the intermittent-use device is not in use, the maintainer mechanism including a transformer having a core and a secondary winding coupled to the core, and an AC to DC converter electrically coupled to the transformer, the battery being electrically coupled to the AC to DC converter; and means for coupling the transformer to an external power source for providing a maintenance current to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for precluding discharge of a battery used in an intermittent-use device during non-use of the device, the device including an integral battery charging system having at least one charging component, the apparatus comprising:
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means for sharing said at least one charging component of the device including means for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the battery'"'"'s discharge rate while the device is not in use; and means for coupling the means for providing a maintenance current to an external power source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for precluding discharge of a lead acid battery used in an intermittent-use device with an integral battery charging system having various components including means for controlling a direct current, and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery of the device, comprising:
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means, employing components of the integral battery charging system of the device, including at least said means for controlling the direct current and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery of the device, for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the specific battery'"'"'s discharge rate while the device is not in use; and means for coupling the means for providing a maintenance current to an external power source.
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18. Apparatus for precluding discharge of a battery used in an intermittent-use device, the apparatus comprising:
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means for providing a maintenance current to the battery proximate the specific battery'"'"'s discharge rate while the device is not in use, including a non-voltage regulated power supply having a direct current output, and means for transmitting the direct current to the battery; and means for coupling the means for providing a maintenance current to an external power source.
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Specification